We may still be in the first week of November but the countdown to Christmas has started in earnest for one Stone family.
You may have seen the Wilson’s house as you’ve walked or driven up Lichfield Road. You can’t miss it, especially at night. That’s because on Tuesday 1st November, it was covered in Christmas lights and decorations.
The obvious question for Simon Wilson, who moved to his house in Oak Road from Stafford six weeks ago, is: why?
The dad of three said: “We always put our decorations up on 1st November. It’s just a tradition now. My parents always used to put them up on 1st December when I was young but, since our first child came along five years ago, I’ve always put them up on 1st November.”
And he isn’t worried about winding them up for Christmas so early?
“No, they love it,” Simon said. “And this is only stage one. On the night of the Christmas lights switch-on in town (17th November) there’ll be plenty more ready to switch on, inside and outside!”
Simon’s eldest daughter, a pupil at St Dominic’s Primary School, is singing with her school choir on switch-on night, so it will be an extra-special festive night for the family.
The lights and decorations that are up so far have certainly caught the eye of neighbours and passers-by. Simon said there have been lots of people stopping to have a look and take pictures.
And what does his partner think of the house?
“She loves it,” he said. “I think she’s got used to the early decorations now!”
Are these the first Christmas lights in Stone – or in Staffordshire for that matter? Get in touch if you know of any others! Just email christmas@alittlebitofstone.com
